My mini-poem movies project continues today with my poem from IMPERFECT - poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers (History House Publilshers, 2018). This is the wonderfully welcoming project our own Tabatha Yeatts shared with the world. Here's Tabatha's author/editor website, with links to how you can purchase this collection. (And - NEW - it's now available as an e-book purchase on Amazon, too!)

My poem is called "Hidden in the Seams," and rather than complex emotional mishaps, it deals with the many wrong turns one often takes in a creative adventure, before a final finished project emerges!

A little timely this week, actually, as I dusted off my old sewing machine, found some quilting fabric I've stored for a couple of decades (yes, I washed it!) and snipped ties from some hanging name badges I had to make some cloth masks. We had been using a couple kindly made and shared by our wonderful 92-year-old neighbor, Ms. Betty, but needed a few more, with regular washing and all.

The process went as all my sewing projects do: 1.) Do it wrong first, untangle mangled threads, and re-do; 2.) veer from the actual directions because I like doing things my own way; and 3.) Voila! (Eventually....) Done. Imperfections and all!

I hope you enjoy the short poem movie. Each weekday in April, I'm pausing for some of my published poems for kids on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and for haiku suitable for kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thanks to all who have taken a look, and shared, too! Here's a link to today's poem, and here's a link to my YouTube Channel.

What a treat! Thanks, Robyn :-) You picked a perfect topic, both for the book and for these times. Nice job on the face mask!

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Tabatha

April 16, 2020 10:30 PM EDT

A perfect poem to match your mask adventure! Thanks for sharing it--will have to come back later and hear the video.

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Buffy Silverman

April 16, 2020 11:42 PM EDT

A perfect poem for the times Tabatha. And you may have inspired me to have a go myself. I've been thinking of getting my machine out, but keep hesitating because I'm so rusty and an adequate seamstress at best. But hey the fun is in the trying, isn't it?

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Sally Murphy

April 17, 2020 5:35 AM EDT

I love all the sounds in your poem and those final two lines capture so much. My grandmother and mother were both proficient seamstresses, but sadly that's a skill I lack. I'm impressed by your persistence and your masks!

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Molly Hogan

April 17, 2020 8:45 AM EDT

You captured the sounds and emotion involved in sewing perfectly! I struggle with directions and often find a different, but strange, way of doing things. You face mask looks good.

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Janice Scully

April 17, 2020 9:35 AM EDT

Ha! I can SO RELATE to your sewing poem, Ms. Do it Your Own Way. :) :) And there you are again with that mischievous Robyn-look in your photo. Love! xo

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Irene Latham

April 17, 2020 9:36 AM EDT

--Thanks so much, Tabatha - and thanks for such a wonderful book/resource for everyone who makes the, er, occasional mistake. Like I did reading the last couple lines of my own poem here. But, seemed appropriate just to leave it... ;0) HAPPY POETRY MONTH to you! XO

--Thanks, Buffy! This video was pretty fun to make. Mistakes and all.

--Thanks, Sally - "so rusty and an adequate seamstress at best" is the perfect description of MOI. But while I might labor endlessly over one word in a poem, when it comes to sewing, "good enough" seems to work for the masks. I say, go for it! ;0)

--Molly, another perfect description of my own situation! My mother made my wedding dress, and my grandmother's quilt covers our bed. I did take a class or two when my kids were little and enjoyed making some of their clothes and Halloween costumes. I was shocked this week to find that I could put my hands on my sewing machine instructions after moving several years ago... and more shocked that I didn't really need it. :0) Thanks for hosting everyone this week!!

--Thanks, Janice - you and I must be "cut from the same cloth"! (Sorry. Couldn't resist.) Have an inspiring day!

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Robyn Hood Black

April 17, 2020 9:39 AM EDT

--Hi, Irene - so loved "seeing" you in your SCBWI Southern Breeze workshop last night! Glad you enjoyed. And, I would NOT be willing to compare my seams with yours, Missy. XO

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Robyn Hood Black

April 17, 2020 9:39 AM EDT

Such fun, from such frustration (in that moment.) Sounds like my sewing process. A poem I take to heart. And I appreciate your including it in words. I love hearing your voice, but sometimes (as this very moment) it's not convenient to raise the laptop volume) & then I fail to get back to the enticing listen, be it within a post or shared other ways. Your poetry month projects are so energizing! Brava!

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Jan/Bookseedstudio

April 17, 2020 9:56 AM EDT

--Hi, Jan - Thanks as always for your encouraging, light-filled words! This one you might want to listen to later, as I attempted to actually proNOUNCE all those garbled sounds I included in the poem - ha! Hope all your stitches hold tight today, with just the right amount of 'give'. XO

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Robyn Hood Black

April 17, 2020 10:13 AM EDT

Those masks are looking good! My daughter has been making ours (my sewing experiences usually end in disaster--your poem leaves out the part about throwing things across the room and raging thunderstorms). I did enjoy the poem, and have witnessed these stages in my daughter's sewing through the years.

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Kay Jernigan McGriff

April 17, 2020 10:27 AM EDT

Yes, I've had a few mishaps, too, including the sewing then realizing that I placed the fabric one sees backwards. Oh, well, still works! It is certainly a timely poem to make all of us who are opening up the machines again & trying! Happy Friday, Robyn!

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Linda Baie

April 17, 2020 10:29 AM EDT

Yikes, meant to say to "make all of us who are sewing feel better"!

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Linda Baie

April 17, 2020 10:32 AM EDT

--Haha! Too funny, Kay. I'm going to try to get a few more made. (None of them are actually looking the same - I keep tweaking as I go!) Can't promise something won't fly across the room...

--Thanks for joining in, Linda - the poetry party and the mask-sewing. Rusty sewing peeps, unite! (extends power fist into the air....)

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Robyn Hood Black

April 17, 2020 12:16 PM EDT

Ha! I love this. I have been such a poor sewer and repeater of all your steps except the last that I gave my sewing machine away! Ack! I could have used it these past weeks. Thank goodness for Etsy! There are sewers that sell masks there. Never would have thought of Etsy if it hand't been for Artsy Letters.

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Linda Mitchell

April 17, 2020 3:29 PM EDT

I wish I was better at undoing knitting mistakes, so I could hide them! Fun poem!

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Laura Purdie Salas

April 17, 2020 3:30 PM EDT

I wish I was better at undoing knitting mistakes, so I could hide them! Fun poem!

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Laura Purdie Salas

April 17, 2020 4:25 PM EDT

Testing blog comments

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Hector / AG Web Services

April 17, 2020 4:33 PM EDT

Another test comment

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Hector / AG Web Services

April 17, 2020 5:02 PM EDT

Your poem videos make me so happy! Today's poem is perfect for today's mask making frenzy. Great use of onomatopoeia! Like your face mask model too. :)

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jama

April 17, 2020 5:03 PM EDT

I admire all of you with sewing abilities. My daughter took a class and has sewn several things. Reading and listening to your poem is like listening to her work, too :) Thanks for sharing.

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Kimberly Hutmacher

April 17, 2020 5:11 PM EDT

Your poem is sewing machine music to my ears. My daughter sees, and it all sounds so familiar. Thanks for sharing, Robyn.

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Kimberly Hutmacher

April 17, 2020 5:29 PM EDT

test

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test

April 17, 2020 6:19 PM EDT

--Hi, Linda - Ha! Understood. And, I'm glad you had success finding masks on Etsy. There has actually been such demand that we (sellers) all received emails asking folks to make masks and offer them for sale if possible to help out. (My 'skills' are not at all consistent enough for that, but I'm glad folks who do sew regularly have answered the call!) :0)

--Haha, Laura - and, HEY - at least you can knit! Once upon a time I knew the simplest crochet stitch, but....

--Aw, Thank you, Jama! And I'll pass your compliments along to the 'model,' who has generally been behind the camera for most of my videos! ;0) Stay safe and well and covered up! XO

--Hi, Kimberly - thanks so much. I am quite out of practice! And thanks for the extra effort re. blog comments... which brings me to:

Robyn, I went to the YouTube link before reading your poem and loved your presentation. It was filled with the "perfect" facial gestures and sounds. What a great poem and final product.

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Carol Varsalona

April 17, 2020 8:28 PM EDT

Thanks so much, Carol - glad you enjoyed it! Have a great hunkered-down-with-poetry weekend. :0)

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Robyn Hood Black

April 17, 2020 10:33 PM EDT

How brave of you to record a poem with so many "sound effects." LOVED your animated reading, Robyn!

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Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

April 17, 2020 11:27 PM EDT

Haha, Michelle - that's what social distancing will do to you! ;0) Thanks for coming by!

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Robyn Hood Black

April 18, 2020 5:37 AM EDT

So fun, Robyn! Your reading had me in 'stitches'. I still haven't gotten past my initial sewing mishaps...untangling the thread/bobbin has been a nightmare. Luckily, my 16 y/o daughter knows her way around the machine. :)

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Bridget Magee

April 18, 2020 7:48 AM EDT

Ah yes, we've all been there! And how great to see that acknowledged so perfect. I absolutely love all the sounds. Who knew so many of us would be sewing again.

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Liz Steinglass

April 18, 2020 7:49 AM EDT

Ah, yes, we've all been there and how wonderful to have the experience acknowledged so perfectly. I love the sounds! Who knew so many of us would be sewing again.

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Liz Steinglass

April 18, 2020 8:35 AM EDT

Sounds (literally) just about like MY process!

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Mary Lee

April 18, 2020 6:13 PM EDT

Your poem resonates with me and the process my sewing projects go through! We made masks, and it took a while to smooth out the process. I have discovered your poetry moments through the SCBWI gathered links. You're doing a fantastic job with the readings, the variety and the beautiful and meaningful locations of your filming. Thank you!

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Joyce Ray

April 18, 2020 11:03 PM EDT

--Hi, Bridget - Ha! That's funny. And it's interesting to read about another mom listening to her daughter zipping along on a sewing machine. I was not patient enough to learn from my mom while growing up, but then took a lesson or two - after a couple of college-era attempts - after having kids years later! ;0) Thanks for coming by!

--Glad you enjoyed, Liz! And isn't that something? I was pleasantly surprised I remembered how to turn on my old machine, and more or less operate it!

--Ha, Mary Lee! Well, I'll take the company....

--Oh, Joyce, what a very kind comment! Thanks for taking the time to check out the little videos, and I'm glad you found them on the SCBWI resource. And, the "smoothing out" of the process has definitely taken me several runs! I'm not sure any of the ones I made are really alike, though I did come up with a quirky design on the fly that I started adhering to, mostly. ;0)

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Robyn Hood Black

April 19, 2020 11:19 AM EDT

Keep sharing, Robyn. I love it all! My first attempt at masks (cutting up old flannel sheets) resulted in some rather odd, yet incredibly soft masks for the two of us. No sewing involved. I so love that you are helping keep your neighbor safe. Be well!

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Christie Wyman

April 19, 2020 12:54 PM EDT

The zip, zip, zip, and the pin, pin, pin, I love the rhythm. I am not able to sew masks as my machine is broken. I love what you are doing for NPM!

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Jone R MacCulloch

April 19, 2020 12:58 PM EDT

Zip,zip,zip and pin, pin, pin and Chikita, chikita, chikita, chikita...love it! the rhythm. My sewing maching is broken so I can't use it and it's old so not worth fixing. I love what you are doing for NPM. Very fun to see each dat.

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Jone

April 19, 2020 10:40 PM EDT

--Hi, Christie! Good for you for the re-purposed flannel. Sounds cozy! (And, actually, it was our neighbor who gave US a couple masks that she'd made, before I got my own machine out! She's who we all want to be when we're in our 90s!) Stay safe & well!

--Thanks so much, Jone (& looks like my comments gremlins are still gremlin-ing. Hopefully that can get fixed soon!) - thanks for taking a look a the videos. And, THANKS for sending the wonderful kid's poetry postcards! Got mine! :0) Take care of yourselves. XO

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Robyn Hood Black

April 20, 2020 5:12 PM EDT

So fun a poem, so true an experience, so useful a skill and an attitude! Your videos are looking quite professional!

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Heidi

April 20, 2020 7:52 PM EDT

Aww, thanks so much, Heidi - I'm having fun with them! [ And have had to untangle thread MANY times during this mask-making process... ha! Plus, a blooper reel will be coming at the end of this month's adventures....]